UK

Ofcom has commissioned independent research to explore ways in which the sector’s social gains can be measured and evaluated.
This research is an opportunity for the UK community radio sector to share ideas and experiences on the social benefits that the sector provides and how best to capture them.
Led by Wavehill, an independent research and evaluation consultancy, the purpose of the research is to explore the potential for a toolbox that community radio stations could use to demonstrate their value to potential funders and investors.
Wavehill says: “We want to capture the views of all Ofcom-licensed community radio stations in the UK via a short online survey. Feedback from community radio stations will help to shape the research and inform the nature of the resources and toolkits that may be developed in the future.
The closing date for survey responses is 12 noon on Friday 28th February 2025.
Paul Mercer, Director, Broadcast Licensing and Programme Operations, Ofcom said: “We are delighted to have commissioned this research with Wavehill. During our engagement with the sector over the last few years, the lack of available funding for community radio stations has been a constant theme.
“We encourage all community radio stations to engage in this research wherever possible to enable the creation of a framework which will allow individual services to showcase the delivery of social gains they provide to their community.
“This will help support future funding applications and attract volunteers, both are essential to the long-term sustainability of community radio.”
Martin Steers, Co-Founder & Director of the UK Community Radio Network (UKCRN) said: “It’s fantastic to see this research happening to help evidence the value that community radio provides for the audiences it serves, their communities, and wider society. A value that we all know exists but has been hard to quantity.
“This research will help move us towards a framework where we can quantify and demonstrate the value and impact of community radio to all stakeholders from local councils, funders, and the national government. It will help us secure more support, especially funding, to make our sector more sustainable in the future and we look forward to working with Wavehill and the CMA on this research. We would strongly encourage all stations to engage in this research in any way that they can.”
And Terry Lee, Chair, Community Media Association (CMA), adds: “We know that community radio stations are very familiar with the term ‘social gain’ but are maybe less certain in 2025 with how exactly we define it.
“The CMA welcomes this Ofcom-commissioned research that is set to explore the positive social impacts of community radio and consider what a social benefit framework might look like and how these outputs are measured.
“As a membership organisation, the CMA encourages stations to have their say in this survey.”

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talkSPORT will remain exclusive audio broadcast partner for the British and Irish Lions’ Tour to Australia this year.

Across 10 games, talkSPORT will deliver more than 200 hours of coverage – featuring live match commentary, dedicated programmes and podcasts from Australia.
This will be talkSPORT’s fourth consecutive Tour as audio broadcast partner of the Lions, 12 years on from their debut 2013 Tour in Australia – also the last time the Lions took on the Wallabies.
As part of the agreement, talkSPORT will provide exclusive live match commentary for every game of the Series.
There will also be coverage of the pre-Tour fixture against Argentina in Dublin – the first time the Lions play in Ireland.
Head of talkSPORT Liam Fisher said: “We’re delighted to be bringing The British & Irish Lions Tour to our listeners for another exciting summer of world-class rugby.”

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Former BBC Radio Humberside presenter Andy Comfort has joined community radio station Hull’s 107FM.
He follows his former colleague David Burns, who also signed up for shows on the station following BBC cutbacks.
Andy will be be back on air every Friday afternoon 2-4pm with his new show “Here Comes The Weekend” starting Friday 7th February.
107FM’s programme Director, Pete Mills said: “The fact that Andy, like Burnsy before him, chose to come to 107FM, says a lot about the station, its ethics and values, and moreover, they know how well liked the station is in the area, recognise its huge potential, and wanted to be part of it.
“Having presenters of this high calibre, reputation and experience on board is invaluable on every level to 107FM, from demonstrating the station is going to the next level, through to helping nurture new radio talent, which is a huge part of what we do.”

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BBC Radio 6 Music has announced the line-up and venues for its upcoming Festival in Manchester.

The event is the station’s flagship annual music festival, which takes place in Greater Manchester from Wednesday 26th – Saturday 29th March.
This year’s festival features headline performances at O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester from: Ezra Collective, with a special bespoke performance that celebrates the importance of youth clubs across the country; Mogwai, featuring a unique collaboration with KNDS Fairey Acid Brass; and Kae Tempest, with the global premiere of new material.
Also taking to the stage are Fat Dog, English Teacher and Perfume Genius, with 6 Music’s Jamz Supernova, Tom Ravenscroft and SHERELLE all DJing at the venue.
Other events and club nights include a BBC Introducing night, New Music Fix Live, Indie Forever, Rave Forever in partnership with The Warehouse Project, and Morning After Mix Live.
Listeners will hear live music, highlights and interviews across the four days from 6 Music presenters including Nick Grimshaw, the new Breakfast Show host from Monday 24th February (weekdays 7-10am) and Lauren Laverne, who begins her new mid-morning show (weekdays 10am-1pm) on the same day.
A 6 Music Festival Channel will launch on BBC iPlayer on Monday 17th March with classic festival performances from previous years. From Saturday 29th March, the channel will see the station’s presenters bring viewers back-to-back performance highlights and live sets from this year’s event.
Nick Grimshaw says: “I’m really excited for my first 6 Music Festival. I can’t wait to be back home in Manchester to take the new show up there for a few days in March and bring you the most brilliant of line ups.”
Lauren Laverne says: “I’m thrilled to be back in plenty of time for our biggest moment of the year – the 6 Music Festival. The artists always put together something special just for us and the listeners, which is such a privilege. I’m looking forward to another trip to Greater Manchester with my new show to see what they have in store!”
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “We’re delighted to bring listeners back to back performances and DJ sets from such a range of local, national and international artists. It’s a joy to host a live experience that reflects the breadth of music we play around the clock on our station and to celebrate the region that it’s rooted in.”

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Ofcom has launched a consultation to gather feedback on which voice-controlled devices should be included in legislation surrounding radio streams.

The regulator says it wants to know which radio selection services (RSS) should be designated under the Media Act 2024, which aims to ensure the continued availability of UK radio services on connected audio devices, such as smart speakers and in-car entertainment systems.
The Secretary of State requires a report on the subject, about which radio selection services should be designated under Part 6 of the Media Act.
This isn’t just about making sure Amazon and Google continue to provide radio via their respective smart speakers, but also includes services on mobile phones and in cars such as Siri and Bixby.
Ofcom says: “Our proposed approach to our assessment in our report includes using a threshold to determine if a level of use of a radio selection service is significant. Our report must include consideration of the number of members of the public using a service; the manner in which a service is used; whether the level of use is significant; and any other matters we think affect these.
“We welcome responses to our consultation by 18 March 2025 and, subject to any feedback received, we will publish a Statement setting out the final principles and methods that we will apply in preparing our report.”
See more here.

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UK production company Persephonica has appointed former BBC Sounds Commissioner and Radio 1 producer Fiona Hanlon as Managing Director.
Fiona has 17 years at the BBC, working has worked alongside some of the biggest names in broadcasting, including Nick Grimshaw and Scott Mills.
She played a pivotal role in the launch of BBC Sounds, commissioning music formats like Pop Top Ten with Rylan and Scott and developing companion content for Peaky Blinders, Normal People, and Killing Eve.
“Persephonica has built an excellent reputation for working with world-class talent to create standout podcasts,” said Hanlon.
“I’m excited to lead the next phase of growth, expanding our entertainment slate and developing fresh, innovative formats fronted by hosts that truly connect with their audiences.”
CEO Dino Sofos is equally enthusiastic: “Fiona joins at a key moment for the company as we prepare to launch major new original shows in the UK and beyond. She has an incredible knack for spotting gaps in the market and pairing top-tier talent with bold, unique ideas. We’re incredibly lucky to have such a creative powerhouse leading Persephonica into its next exciting chapter.”

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